While the global oil and gas industry witnessed a marginal decrease in the number of contracts, from 1,283 in Q3 2020 to 1,145 in Q4, there was an almost 28% increase in terms of value from $17.58 billion to $22.55 billion.

United States exports of propane have been increasing in recent months, primarily to countries in East Asia, as a result of cold weather and robust petrochemical feedstock consumption that drive demand in that region, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported Feb. 9. Between April 2020 and November 2020 (the most recent monthly data in EIA’s Petroleum Supply Monthly), approximately 58% of all U.S. propane exports went to markets in Asia. Nearly half of all U.S.

According to the latest Baker Hughes Rig Count, released February 5, the United States rig count was up eight from the previous week to 392. Oil rigs were up four to 299, gas rigs were up four to 92, and miscellaneous rigs were unchanged at one.

The U.S. rig count was down 398 rigs from last year's count of 790. Oil rigs were down 377, gas rigs were down 19, and miscellaneous rigs were down two.

The U.S. offshore rig count was unchanged at 16, down seven year over year.

America’s oilfield services and equipment sector (OFS) employment rose by an estimated 8,421 jobs in January, a fifth consecutive month of growth, according to preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and analysis by the Energy Workforce & Technology Council (Council).

Swanson Russell received 15 awards at the 2021 Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Nebraska Paper Anvil Awards Gala held virtually on January 28. Three of the awards honored the firm’s work with the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC).

PRSA Nebraska’s Paper Anvil Awards honor outstanding contributions made to the public relations profession. The competition recognizes organizations that have successfully addressed a communications challenge with skill, creativity, and resourcefulness.

ThompsonGas (Frederick, Md.) announced Jan. 28 the acquisition of All Service Propane Inc. (Anderson, Calif.), a propane provider in Northern California. ThompsonGas reports it is committed to serving the residential, commercial and agricultural customers who have valued the All Service Propane presence and service in the area for multiple decades.

The number of drilled but uncompleted wells (DUCs) that accumulated at the height of the pandemic has already subsided to pre-COVID-19 levels in the United States, a Rystad Energy analysis announced Jan. 25 shows. After swelling to a multi-year high of 6,548 wells in June 2020, the number of such wells in the country’s major oil regions slimmed down to around 5,700 wells by the end of December 2020.

In the latest Baker Hughes Rig Count, released Jan. 29, the United States rig count was up six from the previous week to 384. Oil rigs were up six to 295, gas rigs were unchanged at 88, and miscellaneous rigs were unchanged at one.

The U.S. rig count was down 406 rigs from last year’s count of 790, with oil rigs down 380, gas rigs down 24, and miscellaneous rigs down two.

The U.S. offshore rig count was unchanged at 16, down five year over year.

Superior Plus Corp. (Toronto) has announced that one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries has acquired all of the assets of a retail propane and distillate distribution company, operating under the tradename Holden Oil.

Founded in 1924, and located in Peabody, Mass., Holden is an established independent retail energy distributor serving approximately 8750 residential and commercial customers in the Northeast.
RegO (Elon, N.C.), a leading provider of advanced valves and controls for liquid and gas in the LPG, LNG, cryogenic, and industrial gas industries, has consolidated its network of wholesale distributors in Canada. RegO’s complete product portfolio of LPG regulators, valves, and tank fittings is now available exclusively from Diversco Supply for the entire country of Canada.
A new comparative analysis released Jan. 26 analyzes the carbon footprint of medium-duty and heavy-duty (MD-HD) engine vehicles powered by propane and electricity. The analysis, “Decarbonization of MD-HD Vehicles with Propane,” found that propane-fueled MD-HD internal combustion engine vehicles provide a lower carbon footprint solution in 38 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., when compared to MD-HD electric vehicles (EVs) charged using the electrical grid.
Canada’s primary underground propane inventories fell by 11.4% in December to start January at 2044.8 Mcm, the equivalent of 12.9 MMbbl, according to the Canada Energy Regulator (CER). The total represented a major month-to-month decrease of 262.6 Mcm. Compared to a year earlier, stocks continued to be markedly higher, with 1282.0 Mcm, or 168.1%, more product on hand.
According to the most recent Baker Hughes Rig Count, released Jan. 22, the U.S. rig count gained five from the previous week to reach 378. Oil rigs were up two to 289, gas rigs were up three to 88, and miscellaneous rigs were unchanged at one.

The U.S. rig count was down 416 rigs from last year’s count of 794, with oil rigs down 387, gas rigs down 27, and miscellaneous rigs down two.
The U.S. offshore rig count was unchanged at 16, down five year-over-year.
American Petroleum Institute (API) president and CEO Mike Sommers issued the following statement Jan. 20 in response to President Biden’s executive actions on climate and energy issues.

“President Biden takes office at a time when the U.S. leads the world both in energy production and environmental performance. This president inherits a strong American energy picture—marked by low household energy costs, record emissions reductions and less reliance on foreign energy.
Blue Bird (Fort Valley, Ga.) announced Jan. 19 it will begin production this spring of its propane and gasoline Vision school buses that integrate Ford’s all-new 7.3L V8 engine and a purpose-built fuel system designed specifically for school-bus application. The 2022 model features innovative technology that integrates an advanced fuel system with a new engine, improved and simplified wiring and fuel line routing, and an updated look for school buses.
On Jan. 13, Palmer Gas & Oil (Atkinson, N.H.) confirmed its commitment to keeping New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts homes and businesses warm by breaking ground on a propane storage facility in Somersworth, N.H. Family-owned Palmer Gas & Oil, along with its subdivision Lamprey Energy, is one of the largest providers of commercial and residential fuel, service, sales, and installation in the area.